1910.146(c)(8): Host Employer Duties to Contractors in Permit Spaces
When a host employer has a contractor do permit space work, it must tell the contractor about the permit spaces and the required program, share the known hazards and its experience with the space, share its precautions, coordinate entry when both crews work in or near the spaces, and debrief the contractor afterward.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(c)(8) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 19 times in the last 3 years, in 13 inspections, with $80,304 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TN (4), KY (3), IL (3).
- Related part: 1910.146(c) General requirements (1,090 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.146(c)(8) is one requirement inside 1910.146 Permit-required confined spaces, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). It includes 5 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(8) When an employer (host employer) arranges to have employees of another employer (contractor) perform work that involves permit space entry, the host employer shall: 19 citations
(i) Inform the contractor that the workplace contains permit spaces and that permit space entry is allowed only through compliance with a permit space program meeting the requirements of this section; Open (c)(8)(i) 7 citations
(ii) Apprise the contractor of the elements, including the hazards identified and the host employer's experience with the space, that make the space in question a permit space; Open (c)(8)(ii) 4 citations
(iii) Apprise the contractor of any precautions or procedures that the host employer has implemented for the protection of employees in or near permit spaces where contractor personnel will be working; Open (c)(8)(iii) 3 citations
(iv) Coordinate entry operations with the contractor, when both host employer personnel and contractor personnel will be working in or near permit spaces, as required by paragraph (d)(11) of this section; and Open (c)(8)(iv) 2 citations
(v) Debrief the contractor at the conclusion of the entry operations regarding the permit space program followed and regarding any hazards confronted or created in permit spaces during entry operations. Open (c)(8)(v)
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.146.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.146(c)(8).
At 11:10 a.m. on March 27, 2024, an employee was fixing a patch inside the gun barrel tank. The employee was using a heat gun inside the tank, which caught substances on fire and led to an explosion. The employee suffered burns over the entire…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: TN (4), KY (3), IL (3), VA (2), NJ (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| 66553 - DARLING INGREDIENTS INC | SARDIS, KY | $21,000 |
| CACIQUE FOODS LLC | AMARILLO, TX | $16,550 |
| MERIT ENERGY COMPANY | GARDEN CITY, KS | $12,098 |
| SKANSKA TRAYLOR PNB JOINT VENTURE | KEARNY, NJ | $10,404 |
| TRIALCO ALUMINUM, LLC | CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL | $6,500 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(c)(8), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Requirements for developing entry procedures for permit-required confined spaces. (2006-09-21)
- Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. (1994-09-19)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.146(c) General requirements 1,090 citations
- 1910.146(c)(2) 359 citations
- 1910.146(c)(1) 293 citations
- 1910.146(c)(4) 253 citations
- 1910.146(c)(5) 63 citations
- 1910.146(c)(5)(ii) 59 citations
- 1910.146(c)(7) 50 citations
- 1910.146(c)(3) 40 citations
- 1910.146(c)(7)(iii) 33 citations
- 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(C) 24 citations
- 1910.146(c)(9) 11 citations
- 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(H) 10 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must the host tell the contractor?
That the workplace contains permit spaces, entry is allowed only through a compliant permit space program, the hazards and experience with the space, and the precautions in place.
Must entries be coordinated?
Yes, when both host and contractor personnel will be working in or near permit spaces.
What happens after the job?
The host must debrief the contractor on the program followed and any hazards confronted or created during entry.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.146 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.